Audible tooth brush



1960 M. B. SILVERMAN 2,947,013

AUDIBLB TOOTH BRUSH Filed Feb. 17, 1956 )Y/A j/ 4 g 4 -l7 5 22; 2 ZINVENTOR. 4 MILTON aslLveRmAm AUDIBLE TOOTH BRUSH Milton B. Silverman,3204 Garrison Ave., Baltimore 16, Md.

Filed Feb. 17, 1956, Ser. No. 566,209

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-105) This invention relates to toothbrushes suitablefor employment in the cleansing of the teeth of individuals.

The invention includes among its objects the provision of a new andimproved toothbrush including a bristle head that is moveable during itsoperative motions in a substantially vertical direction across theteeth, to cleanse the teeth of the user and in doing so cause musicalsounds to interest and entertain the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedtoothbrush having a structure provided with a bristle head that can bepropelled in specified directions and in doing so operate an includedmechanism for causing audible sounds of an attractive nature.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmanually-operated toothbrush having a bristle head mounted on one endportion of an elongated handle and its other end portion surmounted by amusical box including mechanism actuated by varying the position of theaxis of the toothbrush.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedtoothbrush having a bristle head mounted thereon for cleansing the teethof the user, longitudinally and transversely, and also including a soundmechanism attached at a distance from the bristle head, but connectedthereto, and so arranged that the mechanism will be actuated by themanipulation of the bristle head in a predetermined manner.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as its details areoutlined and explained.

For a better comprehension of the invention, and its constructiontogether with the principles that control its operation, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings and following specification, whichserve as illustrations of What is included in its structural make-up.Also it may be added that this invention is an improvement on theembodiment of the invention described and illustrated in U.S. LettersPatent No. 2,877,477, issued March 17, 1959, to Jack I. Levin forAudible Tooth Brush.

Referring to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a musical tooth brush embodying thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken. on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the musical box used in this embodimentlooking in the direction of 3-3 of Figure 2, and with the end flangecovering removed;

Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation looking in the direction of line4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on line 5-5 of Figure2 indicating the ratchet mechanism used in the musical box in thisembodiment; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified design of the housing of thetooth brush.

Similar reference numerals designate similar parts in the variousfigures.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, a tooth-brushassembly consists of a tooth brush head 10 with its bristles 11 attachedto a suitable frame mounted on a cylinder 12. The cylinder on a shaft 13is oscillated through an are limited by the position and length of thesides 14 of a casing 15. The interior of the casing 15 contains thecylinder 12, and its walls 14 support its shaft '13. The shaft 13extends to a musical box 16 positioned at a suitable distance from thetooth-brush assembly. The box 16 preferably has one of its wallslouvered or windowed to form an open register 17 for the tones to escapefrom the musical mechanism therein. The shaft 13, as it extends from thecasing 15 to the musical box, is encased in a hollow tube 18 that isrigidly connected with them. The tube forms a handle for the user tograsp and operate the toothbrush. The musical mechanism consists of adrum 19 loosely mounted on the shaft 13 and is rotated by a hub 20 onwhich a pawl 21 is loosely hinged. The hub 20 is keyed to the shaft 13.The pawl is normally positioned in a plane and tensioned by a spring(not shown) that induces it to ratchetly connect with the internal teeth22 arranged annularly in the drum 19 and move the drum. When thebristles 11 are drawn over the teeth of the user, in a vertical plane,they are given an oscillating movement through a predetermined are bythe resistance of the teeth. The purpose of this movement is to cleanparticles in between the vertical spaces of the teeth. The tooth brushassembly through the shaft 13 makes the pawl 21 reciprocate through anarc and rotate the drum 19 in one direction, and in doing so brings itsprongs 24 arranged radially thereon, into individual contact with themusical reeds 25. The reeds spring away and each give out a musical noteas they do so. This music is heard through the register 17 andparticularly by the user of the brush. The connecting enclosing parts ofthe assembly, namely the musical box 16, brush casing 15 and the tubing18 are termed the housing of the tooth brush.

, The structure is preferably as indicated in Figure l, and hasarrangements for facilitating access to the interiors of the box 16 andthe casing 15. The arrangements consist of a flange cover 26 withinsert-able telescopic rims 27 for the box walls. A similar flange cover29, shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the flange cover 26, can be usedin the wall of the casing 15, but is not essential. The use ofrectangular contours in Figures 1 and 2, of these parts is intended todesignate a preferred form, but not one of limitation. In Figure 6, thesame general structure is utilized, but the outer contours are roundedto suit any requirements that make such modified form desirable. Theelements indicated by reference numerals 10', 11', 15', 16', 17, 18, and26' of Fig. 6, correspond to the elements indicated by referencenumerals 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 26, in Figs. 1 and 2. The operatingmechanisms used in this form are of the same design, used in theembodiment previously described.

The purpose of the musical creation is one intended to interest the userof the tooth brush and to audibly tell him when he is properly brushingand cleaning his teeth. For younger folk, it attracts their attentionand offers inducements to use the tooth brush. In doing so, the devicemakes necessary, the operation for its main function in a most effectivemanner, and agreeably forces its use along lines of use that arepredetermined by the designer and constructors of the tooth brush. Itbrings to the human being an inducement to perform a function that has adesirable consequence.

The construction of the tooth brush assembly can be varied in design tomake it more aesthetic or meet specific desires, without departing fromthe principles involved, and coming within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Patented Aug. 2, 1960 Havingfthus described theinvention, what isclaimed is:. t

1.' A toothbrush assembly, comprising, a housing having an opening onone side thereof and including an oscillatable brush head-mountedtherein having; bristles ex;

tending, therefrom through I said opening and limited to; apredetermined arcuate, movement with respect to-said housing, said'housing including a musical box spaced;

from said brush head and enclosing among; and

mechanism for creating predeterminedmusical. tones, a; shaftconnectingsaid prong and'reed mechanism to said oscillatable brush'head, saidshaft beingactuated when said brushhead-is rubbed against the tooth'of a-userin a. vertical direction for operating said prong and reedmechanism to create musicahtones;

2., A toothbrush assembly, comprising-,2. housing-hay ing an opening" onone side thereof and includinggan o's cilla'table brush headmounted-therein havingbri'stles-emtending therefrom through said openingand limited toa predetermined arcuate movement with respect to saidhousing, said housing. including a" musical; boXspaced from said brushhead and enclosing aprong-andereed mechanism including a drumtforcreatingpredetermined:

musical tones, the reed part of said mechanism being "positioned on theinteriorwall of said rmisic'boxand the prong part to the drum; a shaftconnecting said drum to said oscillatable head, said shaft beingoperated when said brush head is rubbed against the teeth of a user in avertical direction for operating said prong and reed mechanism to createmusical tones, said drum being actuated by said shaft through a pawl andsprocket in a ratchet-1ike action, to rotate it; in a. predetermineddirection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDJSTATES}PATENTS"Germany Apr. 22, 1954

